The 1490 NewsBlog

Friday, March 7, 2008

This weekend starts off daylight saving time, and Sunday, all clocks will be set forward one hour. Daylight saving time begins March 9, at 2:00 a.m. Fire department officials also recommend changing the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.

03/05/06 - Bradford Master Plan Team Holds ForumThe Bradford Master Plan team held a public form Wednesday, and Albert Filoni told people that the team is not trying to bring Bradford back to its glory days, but they are trying to bring about a resurgence. Among the issues discussed were housing, zoning and economic development. Another issue was the attitude of people in the area – which the team says needs to improve because Bradford isn't as bad as some people perceive it to be. Also, Joe Warner of Bradford Online said getting people back to downtown Bradford could be as simple as putting up a sign. Everyone at the meeting seemed to agree that a sign coming out of Wal-Mart, directing people downtown is a great idea. (Pictured is Albert Filoni of MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects)

03/07/08 - Aide Quits over 'Monster' CommentAn aide to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Samantha Power, stepped down from the campaign on Friday amid uproar over a comment she made to a British newspaper referring to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a "monster." "She made the decision to resign and we accepted it," said Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director. Power had been an aide to Obama in his Senate office before signing on to advise his presidential campaign on foreign policy issues 14 months ago. Read the full story HERE

03/07/08 - Cops: Hairstylist Shot Client in ButtPolice say a Washington, Pennsylvania, hairstylist shot a client in the rear end after she complained about her haircut. Thirty-eight-year-old Monique Reed has been arrested and charged with shooting 28-year-old Lauren Newton. The shooting took place in Reed's Washington apartment. Newton had apparently come to complain about the hairstyle Reed had given her. Police say Newton's injuries are not life-threatening.

03/05/08 - Rendell: PA Voters Ready to be HeardGovernor Ed Rendell, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, says the people of Pennsylvania are focused on the two largest issues facing the country – the state of our economy and national security. He says Pennsylvanians look forward to making their voices heard and playing their part in determining the Democratic nomination. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey says he won't endorse either candidate before the primary. He is a superdelegate, meaning he can cast a vote for anyone. Obama and Clinton campaigned for Casey in his 2006 race against Republican incumbent Rick Santorum. So did Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton. The primary is April 22.

03/05/08 - Supsect in Beating to Face Charges SoonThe suspect in the brutal beating of a Sheffield senior is expected to face charges soon. 18-year-old Jeremy Hoden was sentenced last month to 3 years in Florida state prison for assaulting a police officer and running from authorities. Police say Hoden fled Pennsylvania and went to Florida in a car stolen from 77 year old Irene Rice, after he broke into her home, beat her up and stole money from her. Police say Hoden beat up Rice then stole her money and her car. Warren County District Attorney Ross McKeirnan says they hope to get Hoden in about a month and will prosecute him as an adult.

03/05/08 - Smethport Fugitive Picked up in PortvilleA Smethport man who was on the run from police has been picked up and arrested in Portville. 21-year-old Joseph Yehl was wanted on burglary and other charges from an incident February 4 in Smethport. Police received a tip that he was running through back yards in Portville. Police found him and arrested him without incident. Portville's drug K-9 unit allegedly found marijuana hypodermic instruments, controlled substances and other drug paraphernalia in his car. A hand gun stolen from Smethport was also found. He's in jail on 25 hundred dollars bail.

A neighbor describes a large explosion that destroyed a house in Plum, Pennsylvania.

PLUM, Pa. (AP) — A broken gas line caused a suburban Pittsburgh house explosion that killed one person and injured a 4-year-old girl, officials said Thursday. Holiday Park Fire Chief Larry Glass said the line had already deteriorated before Wednesday afternoon's explosion, which leveled one house and damaged 14 others.

The U.S. Interior Secretary releases water - lots of water - from the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell, sending water rushing into the Grand Canyon. The release is to help fish habitats in the river and rebuild beaches.

The 85 chickens released as a prank in Philadelphia's Northeast High School have a new home -- Fox Chase Farm, the district's agricultural school. Northeast High workers came in several weeks ago to find the hens and roosters flocking through the halls. Most students were sent home for the day, and the district spent about $5,000 cleaning up droppings and chicken feed. Weeks later people at the school are still telling chicken jokes. An example: "Why were the chickens on the second floor? They wanted higher learning."

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

03/03/08 - Supreme Court Rejects Rigas Final AppealAdelphia Communications founder John Rigas and his son, Timothy, have lost their final appeal of their convictions for fraud that led to the collapse of the nation's fifth-largest cable television company. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal without comment this morning. 83-year-old John Rigas is serving a 15-year prison term, while his son, the former chief financial officer, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Federal investigators began looking at Adelphia after it said in a footnote to a press release in 2002 that the company had $2.2 billion in off-balance sheet debt.

03/03/08 - Man Sentenced for Murdering WifeA Youngsville man who admitted to killing his wife will spend the next 20 to 40 years in prison. Christian Iverson was sentenced on a charge of third-degree murder. In February of last year, he called 9-1-1 to say he shot his wife Patricia with a rifle in their bedroom, following an argument.

03/03/08 - Corry Man Charged in Death of ManA Corry man has been charged with homicide in the killing of 58 year-old Andrew Balog last Thursday near Tidoutte. State Police say 45 year-old David Beattie of Corry killed Balog with a single gun shot wound to the head during a domestic dispute last Thursday. Beattie was sent to the Warren County Jail without bail.

03/03/08 - Salamanca Man's Killer SentencedThe man who shot and killed a Salamanca man in July has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Robert Secrist shot Tharin Jimerson with a .22-caliber rifle while he was talking to his girlfriend at her home. The woman is also Secrist's ex-girlfriend. Secrist then entered the home and assaulted the woman. Secrist is eligible for parole, but the court recommended against it during this morning's sentencing hearing.

03/04/08 - St. Bonaventure ROTC Leader HonoredThe head of St. Bonaventure University's R-O-T-C program is among 19 people who have been honored by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities during the 2008 Independent Sector Alumni Hall of Distinction Awards Ceremony and Legislative Reception in Albany. Lt. Col. Richard Trietley Jr. is a 1986 graduate of St. Bonaventure and has served with the Army for 22 years. The Alumni Hall of Distinction was created in 2000 to recognize New York’s Independent Sector graduates who make contributions to society through their careers and community involvement.

03/04/08 - Olean Woman Suing City, Lawyer, CouncilAn Olean woman is suing the city, the mayor, common council and the city's lawyer for allegedly violating her right to free speech. Tina Kamery alleges that her rights were violated in January when Common Council President Richard Smith barred her from speaking at council meetings for a month. Smith barred Kamery from speaking after she accused Mayor David Carucci and the city attorney of lying to her about taking an item off the common council agenda.

03/03/08 - Pitt-Bradford's Butler Earns 200th WinThe Pitt Bradford Panthers baseball team won three out of four games in Virgina over the weekend. In the process Panthers coach Brett Butler won his 200th game at Pitt Bradford. Butler is in his 10th year at Pitt Bradford and is 201-144-1.

03/04/08 - Katie Moore is AMCC Player of the YearPitt-Pitt-Bradford's Katie Moore is the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference women’s basketball Player of the Year. The 5-7 junior led the AMCC in scoring at 20 points per game.Moore finished the season seven points shy of 1,000 career points. On the men’s side Pitt Bradford senior Jess Whelan was named to the AMCC second team.(Photo courtesy of Pitt-Bradford)

02/28/08 - Husband, Wife Jailed on Murder ChargesA Sinnemahoning woman is in jail on murder charges for allegedly providing drugs to a woman who died on New Year's Day. 28-year-old Shawna Coffman is accused of crushing up several pills and giving the substance to 38-year-old Melissa Marshall during a New Year's Eve party. Marshall was found unresponsive at 9 o'clock the next morning, and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. An autopsy showed that she died of cardiac arrest, exacerbated by multiple drugs in her system, including cocaine, oxycodone and alcohol. Coffman's husband, Jesse Coffman is also charged with drug delivery resulting in death. Both of the Coffmans are in jail on 100 thousand dollars bail each.

02/28/08 - More Charges Filed Against Kane BurglarAdditional charges have been filed against a Kane woman who already confessed to breaking into several homes and stealing money last spring and summer. 30-year-old Heidi Lynn Horton of Birch Street has been charged in connection with 8 more burglaries and thefts in the Kane area. The charges were filed as a result of continuing investigations in the Wetmore Township and Kane Borough areas. Police say there are still several other burglaries under investigation from April to September of 2007 in McKean, Warren, Elk and Jefferson counties. Horton is in McKean County Jail in lieu of 100 thousand dollars cash bail.

02/29/08 - Record High Oil Prices Locally, NationallyThe price American Refining Group is paying for a barrel of Penn Grade crude oil is edging toward the 100 dollar a barrel mark. Friday's price is 97-50 per barrel. That's up 3 dollars from Thursday's price, and is a new record high price for A-R-G.Nationally, oil prices briefly surpassed 103 dollars a barrel for the first time Friday. Light, sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange jumped to a new trading record of $103.05 a barrel in electronic trading before slipping back to $102.02 a barrel by midday in Europe. On Thursday, the contract jumped $2.95 to a record settlement price of $102.59 a barrel.

02/29/08 - Wineries Oppose Proposed House BillTwo local wineries are concerned about a proposed House bill that would prevent them from shipping directly to their customers. The bill calls for Pennsylvania wineries to send their orders to state liquor stores, where their customers would pick up their purchase. The bill would also reduce the maximum amount of wine that a small farm winery can produce from 200 thousand gallons, to 80 thousand gallons. Sue and Ron Zampogna, who own Flickerwood Wine Cellars and Lounge in Kane say the inconvenience to customers, the increased price of locally produced wine, and the inability of customers picking up their shipments would deter customers. Jamie Williams, who owns The Winery at Wilcox says his business currently produces fifty thousand gallons a year, but hopes one day to be able to produce more. State Representative Dan Surra is a co-sponsor of the bill, while State Representative Kathy Rapp says she will take the concerns of the local wineries to their caucus meeting if the bill gets out of committee.